The water has receded from homes, leaving behind muddy carpets, water-stained sofas and destroyed mementoes. Residents are counting the costs of Storm Desmond. PricewaterhouseCoopers estimates that the storm caused an estimated £500m of damage across the county – almost double the cost of the floods that hit the area six years ago.
These photos, taken just a day or two apart, show Cumbrian towns during the major flooding event, and after the water had receded.
A man is pictured wading through flood water on River Street in Carlisle on 6 December, and the same scene two days laterJeff J Mitchell/Getty ImagesThe High Street in Cockermouth is seen on 6 and 8 DecemberChristopher Furlong/Getty ImagesThese photos taken on 6 and 8 December show a church on Warwick Road in Carlisle during and after the floodingJeff J Mitchell/Getty ImagesThe High Street in Cockermouth is seen during the flooding event on 6 December, and two days laterChristopher Furlong/Getty ImagesGote Road in Cockermouth is seen on 6 December and two days laterChristopher Furlong/Getty ImagesThe corner of Warwick Road and Brunton Crescent in Carlisle on 7 and 8 December 2015Jeff J Mitchell/Getty ImagesCarlisle's Warwick Road on 6 and 8 December 2015Jeff J Mitchell/Getty ImagesA street outside Carlisle United football ground is seen on 7 December 2015 and a day laterJeff J Mitchell/Getty Images
Up to 5,000 homes in Cumbria and Lancashire were flooded during the storm. The army was deployed on 6 December to assist with rescue efforts while Prime Minister David Cameron visited the flood-torn regions on 7 December.
These photos show residents clearing out their flooded homes. Hundreds of people were forced to leave their dwelling, and insurers have warned it could take up to a year for some residents to move back into their homes because of flood damage.
Carlisle United football players help residents of Warwick Road clear flood damage from their homesJeff J Mitchell/Getty ImagesWater-logged sofas and a Christmas tree are seen outside a flooded home on Warwick Road, CarlisleJeff J Mitchell/Getty ImagesJacinta Cooper from Kokoabride inspects the damage to wedding dresses in her shop on Warwick Road in CarlisleJeff J Mitchell/Getty ImagesPeople pile up their belongings outside their homes in Warwick Road, CarlisleJeff J Mitchell/Getty ImagesResidents of Carlisle put their water-damaged possessions on the streetJeff J Mitchell/Getty ImagesResidents of Warwick Road in Carlisle start to empty their possessions from their homesJeff J Mitchell/Getty ImagesWater-damaged possessions lie in the mud outside a flooded home in KeswickChristopher Furlong/Getty ImagesA "Caution, Wet floor" sign lies in the mud in KeswickChristopher Furlong/Getty ImagesA Wellington boot and other water-damaged possessions sit outside a flooded home in CockermouthChristopher Furlong/Getty ImagesFlood-damaged possessions, including a book called Waters of Cumbria, sit outside a home in CockermouthChristopher Furlong/Getty Images
